Can-opener



e. 'n. WILSON.

CAN OPENER. APPLIVCATI'ON FILED on. 14, 1919.

Patented Mar. .15, 1921.

INVENTOR WI TNESSES GEORGE R. WILSON, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

CAN-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

Application filed October 14, 1919. Serial No. 330,634.

To all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. VILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to can openers. The objects of the invention are to provide an improved can opener which will open all sizes of cans, which can be adjusted to the height of the can, which is easily and safely operated and whose parts are simple and readily assembled and disassembled, as for cleaning.

The special object of the invention is to improve upon the construction of the can opener patented by Cora E. Wilson, May 2S, 1918, No. 1,267,615.

The accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention. It should be understood, however, that the dis closure of the drawing is merely illustrative, and that it may be departed from in many particulars, provided the departures are within the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved can opener;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the same;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view; and

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing one end of the operating lever.

Referring to the drawing there is provided a flat base preferably of wood, having a substantially circular portion 5, and a reduced tapered portion 6 with a squared'oif end 6*. An abutment plate or panel 7 preferably of sheet metal, its vertical edges formed into rolls 8 and its bottom edge provided with bent out ears 9, is secured to the base between the main part 5 and the part 6. Screws or similar elements may be used to hold the ears 9 to the base and yet allow removal of the plate or panel when desired. The plate or panel 7 is preferably rounded so that the sides of the cansmay be accommodated thereby.

The rolls 8 of the plate or panel receive vertical round posts 10. The posts rest upon the base 5 within the rolls and are removable, but may be permanently secured to the base or rolls in any suitable manner. The posts 10 form parallel guides for a crosshead 11 having at its ends vertical sleeves 12 embracing the posts. The crosshead 11 also has a substantially triangular blade let ofi'set and depending therefrom and formed integral therewith. The blade is curved substantially like the panel. The blade should have a beveled cutting edge, and is so formed that it makes a clean cut or incision in the top of the can when it is forced down upon the same.

The upper edge of the crosshead has a pintle plate 15 riveted thereto, said plate being formed into spaced rolls, yet may be made integral with the crosshead. A pintle 17 is run through the rolls and forms therewith a pivot for an operating lever 18. An upward bend 19 is formed in the lever, and at an intermediate point in the bend the pintle 17 passes through a hole in the lever. The lever is pivoted at its outer end to an upstanding sheet steel spring 22 secured to the end 6 of the base. The spring preferably is tapered upwardly and has a series of slots 23 running longitudinally and centrally thereof, the bars 24 separating the slots. The outer end of the lever has a notch 21 adapted to engage with the bars 2 1. The notch is arranged transversely of the lever. The arrangement is such that any one of the bars may be engaged with and will remain in the notch iuitil the spring 22 is bent outwardly whereupon the bar may be removed.

The bars being disposed at various heights above the base, and the lever being pivotable upon any bar, the can opener is thus adjustable to cut open the tops of all sizes of cans. Any one pivotal bar will obviously permit the use of the implement for several different sizes. The arcuate movement of the pivoted end of the lever is provided for because of the spring, which gives a direct pressure against the lever at all periods of its move ment.

The device is simple, works easily, cuts quickly and surely, is strong and durable,

and is not difiicult to manufacture. In all these points it has been found superior to the patented can opener to which reference has been made.

What is claimed is 1. In a can opener, a base, a fiat spring secured to and upstanding from the base, a series of slots running longitudinally of the spring and separated by bars, guides secured to the base, a blade movable upon the guides, and an operating lever hinged to the blade and having a notched end det-achably engageable with any one of said bars.

2. In a can opener, a base, a spring secured to and rising above the base, a series of bars formed on said spring and running longitudinally thereof, guides mounted upon the base, a blade movable on the guides, and an operating lever hinged to the blade intermediate its ends and having a notch formed in the end opposite the handle end, said notch being engageable with any one of the bars to permit rocking of the lever upon the selected bar as a pivot, said spring being yieldable to said rocking.

A can opener, comprising a base, a pair of uide posts mounted on the base, an abutment plate located at the lower end of the posts,'a crosshead slidably mounted on the posts, a knife provided on said crosshead, an upstanding spring plate carried by the base, said plate having a series of slots forming bars between the slots, and an operating lever hinged to the crosshead and having its outer end shaped to engage with any one of said bars of said spring.

4. A can opener comprising a base, a guide upstanding from the base, a cross head slidably mounted on the guide, a knife depending from said cross head, a rounded plate secured to the plate at the foot of the guide, a lever having a bend intermediate its ends and pivotally connected with the cross head along said bend, the lever having a handle end and a notched end, and resilient means mounted on the base With which said notched end is engageable.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I'have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE R. WILSON. 

